Grain-cradle.



J. H. F. CLIFTON. GRAIN CRADLE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2,1908.

925,297. Patented June 15, 1909.

WITNESSES.-

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. F. CLIFTON, OF PILOTMOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA.

GRAIN-CRADLE.

No. 925,297. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1909. Application filed July 2, 1908. Serial No. 441,516.

To all whom it may concern: with respect to the snath. A screw, nail, or Be it known that I, Janus H. F. CLIFTON, l a like fastening 7, may be driven in through a citizen of the United States, residing at l the side of the snath and into the supporting Pilotmountain, in the county of Surry and bar to secure the end of the bar in its seat and State of North Carolina, have invented cer-. at the same time, allow pivotal adjustment tain new and useful Improvements in Grainthereof. Cradles, of which the following is a specifica- The cradle fingers 8, have their ends setion. cured in the supporting bar and in order to My invention relates to improvements in hold the fingers properly spaced, I employ a grain cradles, and has for its main object, the novel form of brace, said brace consisting of a provision of simple and practical means for pair of sheet metal straps 9, which are looped bracing and staying the cradle and for or spread as at 10, to receive the fingers. quickly adjusting the angle of the cradle with Bolts or other adjustable fastenings 1 1, serve respect to the sneed or snath. to clamp the straps together at the inner side Another object of my invention is the proof each finger, and the threaded ends 12, of vision of an improved form of brace for the the stay rods 4, are passed through the straps cradle fingers which will hold the fingers propjust at the outside of each finger, there being erly braced and spaced and in the use of nuts 13, engaged on the threaded ends of the which it will not be necessary to make any stay rods, so that by these means, the fingers 7 openings in the fingers or otherwise weaken are adjustably clamped in the brace. The the fingers so that they will thus be less liable inner end of the brace engages the outer edge to breakage. of the scythe blade 14. The straps are pref- WVith these objects in view and others as erably held together at points between the shall hereinafter appear my invention confingers by rivets or suitable fastenings 15, 8 sists of a removable clamp brace for the finand in fact, rivets could be used in place of the belts or screws 11, as the nuts on the gers of the cradle and stay rods adjustably connected between the cradle and the snath. threaded ends of the stay rods provide ior the proper clamping action of the brace. I

My invention further comprises a grain cradle embodying certain other novel feafind this clamping brace to be desirable over all other forms as it 1s 11 ght and inexpensive,

tures of construction, combination and ar rangement oi parts substantlally as disclosed secures the fingers properly braced and spaced apart, should a finger become broken,

herein and illustrated in the accompanying it may be readily replaced without loss of drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of a cradle time by loosening the brace clamps and inconstructed in accordance withand embodyserting a new finger in place, and as it is not necessary in the use of this brace to make ing the features of my invention. Fig. 2, is a sectional view of two of the cradle fingers any openings in the fingers, the fingers are taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, to show the not weakened in any way. The brace is construction and arrangement of the clamp kept from slipping on the fingers by providbrace for the fingers. Fig. 3, is a tragmening the fingers with shoulders 23, which are engaged by the brace.

tary sectional view of the snath showing the A stay rod extends from a point just outmanner of clamping the stay rods therein. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the end portion of side of each finger to the snath, the ends of the supporting bar illustrating the fastener the rods being seated in the openings 16, profor securing the stay rod thereto. Fig. 5 is a vided in the snath. In order to adjustably detail view of a part of the grain cradle. secure the ends of the stay rods in the snath, In the drawings the numeral 1, designates screw bolts 17, are provided, each having a the snath or sneed, which, it will be noted, is loop 18, on its inner end through which the practically straight, it having only a single stay rod passes, and the rods are notched as bond 2, therein, near the lower end thereof at 19, so that the loops will the more readily and in that portion to which the handle 3, grip the rods. Washers 20, and wing nuts 21 and the stay rods 4, are connected. A. supare engaged on the outer ends of the clampporting bar 5, has its end entered in a seat or ing bolts and by such means the stay rods are opening 6, in the extreme lower end of the adjustably clamped in the snath. It will be noted that the uppermost stay rod has its snath and this opening is large enough to allow of an angular ad ustment of the bar end secured stationary 1n the snath and the outer end of this rod is adjustably secured l ceive the fingers and fastenings for clamping near the end of the supporting bar by means I the straps to the fingers, stay rods connected of the adjustable loop fastener 22, which is j to the brace and having their ends entered in similarto the fasteners on the snath. Itwill the snath, adjustable clamps securing the be evident that by means of the clamping i stay rods in the snath, and a stay rod adjustfasteners, the stay rods are held at any deably connected between the snath and supsired adjustment and by means of such fasporting bar. teners, the angle of the cradle may be 3. In combination With the fingers of a quickly adjusted with respect to the snath. grain cradle, a brace for holding the fingers From the foregoing description taken in properly spaced, said brace consisting of a connection With the drawings, it will be evipair of straps, the straps being looped to redent that I have produced a practical and ceive the fingers, and fastenings for clamping efiicient grain cradle and one Which acconi the straps to the fingers. plishes all the results set forth as the objects 4. A cradle comprising a snath, a supportof the invention. ing bar and fingers, an adjustable brace I claim: clamping the fingers in place said brace con- 1. A grain cradle consisting of a supportsisting of a pair of straps, the straps being ing bar and fingers carried thereby, a brace looped to receive the fingers and fastenings adjustably clamping and holding the fingers, for clamping the straps to the fingers, stay said brace consisting of a pair of straps, the rods connected to the brace, fasteners adstraps being looped to receive the fingers and ustably clamping the stay rods to the snath, fastenings for clamping the straps to the fina stay rod connected between the snath and gers, stay rods connected between the brace, supporting bar, and means adjustably holdsupporting bar and the snath, and means for ing the stay rod to the supporting bar.

. adj ustably securing the stay rods. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

2. In a grain cradle, the combination with in presence of tWo Witnesses.

the snath, supporting bar and fingers, of an i JAMES H. F. CLIFTON. adjustable clamp brace holding the fingers I Witnesses: properly spaced, said brace consisting of a MCK. R. SMITH,

pair of straps, the straps being looped to re- C. S. l VALTERS. 

